Rs 5cr for MGM repair

The surgical and medical block, which were damaged on January 18, will be part of the revamp. (Animesh Sengupta)

The bed-ridden infrastructure of MGM Medical College and Hospital in Sakchi is all set to sit up and vouch safety.

Crumbling buildings of the state-run heal hub has, finally, jolted the health department into granting a corpus of Rs 5.5 crore for major repair and renovation, a term alien to MGM for over five decades.

MGM superintendent S.S. Prasad confirmed that they had received the funds on Saturday and redirected the money to the engineering cell of the East Singhbhum district health office. The latter is expected to float and finalise tenders by March 28.

“We have had to file several written complaints with the state health department. Our prayers have been answered with requisite funds. The engineering cell will begin spadework for renovation of the hospital soon,” Prasad added.

Sources said the funds would be used to repair run-down buildings as well as to give MGM a much-needed facelift. So, while crumbling ceilings and walls and tottering pillars will be repaired, floors and parts of walls will see chic mosaic work. Broken doors and windows will be replaced. Some wings of the hospital will see reconstruction too.

Assistant engineer Krishna Singh said the tender process was underway.

“We will finalise an agency by March 28. Repair and renovation of the medical college and hospital will not be delayed,” he promised.

Prasad said they would remain extra vigilant so that the funds were not misused. “Not just us, the district administration as well as voluntary organisations will keep an eye on how the money is spent,” he maintained.

He added that if a single complaint was received from any individual or organisation regarding misuse of funds or substandard work, necessary action would be taken. “We cannot compromise on the quality of repair and renovation,” he said.

His caution is not unwarranted. This is the first time MGM will see a major infrastructure overhaul since it came into being five decades ago. In the past, buildings have been repaired, but they were only patch jobs. In the absence of proper repair work in years, the hospital turned into a threat for both patients and employees. Peeling plaster and crumbling concrete became regular phenomena.

In November 2011, a large portion of a building that houses the blood bank collapsed. Though the accident was not fatal, it raised serious safety concerns. Minor cave-ins were almost routine thereafter.

Earlier this month, principal health secretary K. Vidyasagar paid a visit to MGM and vocally expressed his displeasure over the state of affairs. The release of big money may be seen as a prod to plug gaps in MGM’s services.